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The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. For over three generations, the Academy has connected millions of people to great poetry through programs such as National Poetry Month, the largest literary celebration in the world; Poets.org, the Academy’s popular website; American Poets, a biannual literary journal; and an annual series of poetry readings and special events. Since its founding, the Academy has awarded more money to poets than any other organization.

occasions

“I never know where a poem is headed, but I was thinking of Phil Levine. He was my teacher when I was a kid of nineteen, and his poetry, guidance, and encouragement meant/mean more than he’d have known.”—Andrea Cohen

More Stones

Donald Justice has died twice:once in Miami, in the sun, on a Sunday,and once in Iowa City, on a Fridayin August, which was not withoutits own sun—if not bright spot.The first time he died, he was thinkingof Vallejo, who died in Paris, maybeon a Thursday, surely in rain.Vallejo died again in Paris,in April, of an unknown illnesswhich may have been malaria,as fictionalized in Bolaño’sMonsieur Pain. “There is, brothers,very much to do,” Vallejo saidbetween his deaths, and Phil,you must have died oncein Seville, in the land of Machado,before going again last Saturdayin Fresno, so you no longer writeto us or bring in trash bins filledwith light. Phil, I will die, maybeon a Sunday in Wellfleet, becausetoday it is Sunday, and iceis jamming the eaves, and thereis nowhere to put the snowthat keeps recalling allthose other snows—or the stones on more stones.